Kathryn Bigelow

Hailed as one of the preeminent stylists of contemporary Hollywood filmmaking, Kathryn Bigelow was often too easily pigeonholed as a female director with a flair for traditionally masculine movies. Af...
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Leonardo DiCaprio and Ricky Gervais have been honoured by bosses at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for their animals rights activism.
The stars have been named among the recipients of the 2015 Genesis Award, a prize which is handed out annually to celebrities who raise awareness of animal welfare issues, along with director Kathryn Bigelow, documentary maker Morgan Spurlock and U.S. TV hosts Jon Stewart and Bill Maher. DiCaprio was specifically recognised for producing the documentary Virunga, about endangered gorillas in the African national park, while Gervais was honoured for raising awareness of animals issues through social media. Gervais writes in a post on Facebook.com, "I am touched and honoured to have won a 2015 Genesis Award for my online animal campaigning. Thanks Humane Society."

Before you fill out your Oscar ballots, before you start judging the red carpet fashions, and before you ultimately settle in to watch the 87th Annual Academy Awards this Sunday, you’ll want to impress your friends with your vast knowledge of Oscar’s long and illustrious history. Ok, fine, they might not care who hosted the show the most number of times or who was the youngest winner ever. But you can still read up on these interesting Oscar facts. Do it for you.
1. The first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929 – and the actual awards presentation lasted all of 5 minutes!
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The night was mainly about eating and dancing. Plus, each winner had already been named about three months prior.
2. The movie Wings was the first Best Picture winner.
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It was released in 1927 and contained the first on-screen kiss between two men.
3. Meryl Streep has had the most nominations of anyone – a whopping 19. (She’s only won three times.)
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4. Halle Berry was the first African-American woman to win Best Actress.
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She won for her role in Monster’s Ball, and was inexplicably mauled by Adrian Brody.
5. There are only three films in history that have won the top five major awards, for Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, and Screenplay: It Happened One Night, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Silence of the Lambs .
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6. Tatum O’Neal is the youngest ever Oscar winner.
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She nabbed a Best Supporting Actress statuette at age 10 for her role in Paper Moon.
7. Christopher Plummer became the oldest ever Oscar winner when he won the Best Supporting Actor trophy for Beginners in 2010 at the age of 82.
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8. The phrase “And the winner is…” was abandoned by the Oscars in 1989 and replaced with “And the Oscar goes to…” Less harsh for the losers, maybe.
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9. Sorry, Billy Crystal. Bob Hope still holds the record for most frequent Oscar host. He hosted the show 19 times!
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10. The Oscar statue weighs 8 and a half pounds.
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So when the winners say, “This thing is heavy!” it’s actually kinda true.
11. The 31st Academy Awards in 1959 was the shortest Oscar telecast, clocking in at 1 hour and 40 minutes.
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We doubt we'll see a broadcast that short again.
12. Ellen’s Oscar selfie is the most retweeted tweet ever.
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It currently has almost 3.4 million RTs.
13. In 1969, Midnight Cowboy became the only X-Rated film to win the Best Picture Oscar.
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14. The statuette was actually named The Academy Award of Merit.
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The most popular theory is that it got the name "Oscar" because it looked exactly like an Academy librarian's Uncle Oscar. She apparently noticed the resemblance in 1931 and the name caught on by 1934.
15. Katharine Hepburn won 4 awards - the most of anyone in an acting category.
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Her wins were all for Best Actress.
16. Peter O'Toole has the most nominations (8) without a competitive win.
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He got an honorary Oscar in 2003. There's hope for you, Leonardo DiCaprio!
17. Believe it or not, the first woman to win Best Director was Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker in 2009.
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She beat her ex-husband, James Cameron, for the award.
Did YOU know all of these Oscar facts? Did anything surprise you? Tell us on Twitter!
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"I think it's a real tragedy... I don't the know the stats (statistics). Do they not vote, do they not make those movies...? I think it's a real embarrassment to the industry." Kathryn Bigelow, the first and only female Best Director Oscar winner, is upset about the lack of colour in this year's (15) Academy Awards nominations.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow is urging jewellery lovers to stop buying ivory because the money they hand over for "trinkets" like pendants and bracelets is funding terrorism. The Hurt Locker director's new animated film, Last Days, takes a hard-hitting look at the ivory trade and, as well as tackling the dwindling population of elephants, which are killed for their tusks, she has included information that links traders to terrorist attacks, like the one on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya in 2013, which claimed the lives of 67 people.
In the film, Bigelow claims ivory traders have links to terrorist groups like the Lord's Resistance Army and Boko Haram.
Appearing on U.S. talk show Real Time With Bill Maher, she says, "What can we do...? It's a matter of stigmatising ivory, trying to curb the demand... We did it with blood diamonds, so we have to do it with this.
"One elephant is killed approximately every 15 minutes... That means about 96 a day and over 30,000 a year and at that rate, we have about 10 years left of elephant in the wild.
"This is a win-win. It's a world ethical imperative to save the elephants and it's also a question of national security."
Bigelow admits she had to make the hard-hitting Last Days film a cartoon because, "I couldn't do it live action because I can't watch an animal suffer."

Twilight star Christian Camargo married his passions for acting and racing cars in his new movie by portraying a world champion race ace in Shift. The actor, who portrayed Eleazar Denali in the final two Twilight films, once quit acting to open a car restoration shop in Brooklyn, New York - but he had to give that up when his career really took off after Kathryn Bigelow hired him for K-19: The Widowmaker.
He tells WENN, "I used to be an amateur drag car racer. Talk about weird paths of living. I had an old car shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. When I graduated Juilliard (performing arts school) I got really disillusioned. I was starring in a play, called Kit Marlowe, and making absolutely no money; I couldn't pay my rent, so I stopped acting and opened up a restoration car shop. I'd always been into old cars.
"And then Kathryn Bigelow hired me for K-19: The Widowmaker and I kept both going for a while, but then had to let the business go. But I was just obsessed with the old cars and got an old Cutlass and made it into a drag car when I was in Los Angeles and entered an amateur race. Then you realise, 'Oh, I'm not a trust fund kid', so I had to give that up."
Discussing the new movie, he continues, "Shift is a really personal story for (writer) Randy (Spence) and I have so much respect for him putting that out into the public. The race club that he's doing that around is quite intense. I was doing more sort of weekender stuff but these guys are the real deal."

Hollywood costume designer George L. Little has died, aged 63. He passed away at his home in Los Angeles on 29 August (14).
Little's big break in Hollywood came in 1979 when he served as a costumer for Francis Ford Coppola's classic war epic Apocalypse Now, and he went on to work with other acclaimed directors like Tony Scott (Crimson Tide), Sam Mendes (Jarhead), Barry Levinson (Bugsy), and Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty).
Little's credits also include Red Dawn, About Last Night..., The Pelican Brief, Striptease, Galaxy Quest, Transcendence, and the upcoming reboot of The Fantastic Four.
In 1988, Little was nominated for an Outstanding Costume Design Emmy for his work on TV movie Lincoln, starring Sam Waterston.

Sure, Guardians of the Galaxy gave us an exciting, fun space adventure and a surprisingly moving relationship between a raccoon and a tree. But according to the Internet, the real gift is that of Chris Pratt: Movie Star.
He's everywhere right now — interviews, talk shows, movie theaters, television screens, .gif sets on Tumblr — all punctuated by the giddy exclamations of a nation head over heels in love. And why shouldn't America revel in the glory that is Pratt? He's goofy, charming, lovable, and humble, the funny guy next door wrapped up in an action-star package. But though this is the biggest wave of Chris Pratt adoration that we've experienced, it's hardly the first time that people have fallen in love with him. You might not realize it, but he's been breaking hearts for years now, thanks to his transition from teen crush to goofy best friend to supporting character to leading man. But is Chris Pratt as Star-Lord really better than all of these Chris Pratts, or did we miss the best Chris Pratt when we weren't paying attention? Let's take a look:
Doe-Eyed High School Boyfriend Chris Pratt (a la Everwood)The WB
This is the original iteration of Chris Pratt, and everyone knows the sequels are never as good as the original. That’s the face of a guy who is bound to grow into a movie star, but right now is going to make your teenage heart melt as the jerk-turned-dream-boyfriend. Have you seen his scenes with Hannah? When you were in high school, all you wanted was for someone to love you like that. All you still want is someone to love you like that. And look at that floppy hair – do any other Chris Pratt’s have that ridiculous hair? No they don’t. That’s why this is the best.
Everyone's Chubby Best Friend Chris Pratt (a la Parks and Recreation)NBC
We’re glad that people are finally waking up to Chris Pratt, but frankly, we feel a bit bad for them. See, they missed the best Chris Pratt of all: chubby, accident-prone, lovable doofus Chris Pratt. You want charm? He’s got it. A brilliant sense of humor? Check. Dashing good looks? Always there. A relationship with both his on and off-screen wives that will make you swoon? Still here. On top of all that, chubby Chris Pratt is the kind of guy who will happily sit on the couch with you to binge-watch Netflix, buy you Chipotle whenever you’re craving it and he won’t care at all about what you look like, because he loves you no matter what.
So Badass It's Scary Chris Pratt (a la Zero Dark Thirty)Columbia Pictures
Sure, Chris Pratt elitists can complain that earlier versions are superior, but the truth remains that ripped Chris Pratt is the best one of all. All of those amazing traits that the other Chris Pratt’s have – the humor, the humble perspective, the charm – are still here, but now they’re covered in the most incredible abs you’ve ever seen. Now he’s a serious actor. No more running into ambulances, he’s got serious business to take care of, and when he’s done, he’ll swoop you up into his toned, dramatic actor arms and carry you off into a terrorist-free sunset.
Space Cowboy Chris Pratt (a la Guardians of the Galaxy)Walt Disney Pictures/Marvel
There’s a reason everyone hopped on the Chris Pratt bandwagon after seeing him as Star-Lord: this is the best version of Chris Pratt. He’s cocky, he’s tough, he’s suave, he’s clever and he’s got a heart of gold and the coolest friends in the galaxy. He’s the best kind of action hero, the kind that has a wisecrack for every occasion and the sweet, sweet dance moves that are required in tense situations. Star-Lord is Han Solo for a new generation, the kind of character everyone wants to be and everyone wants to be with. It’s everything you love about the other Chris Pratts, plus a super cool fighter plane.
Moustachioed Chris Pratt in High-Waisted Pants (a la Her)Warner Bros. Pictures via Everett Collection
Sure, he only has a few minutes of screen-time, but those few minutes show off the best Chris Pratt we’ve seen yet. He’s sensitive enough to enjoy a well-written love letter, kind-hearted enough to accept his friend’s non-traditional relationship, funny enough to break the tension, attractive enough to pull off that mustache-and-pants combination and – best of all – emotionally stable enough to be in a relationship with an actual human being. Imagine the weekends in Catalina with him. Would any of those other Chris Pratts take you on a romantic trip to Catalina?
Chris Pratt: French Braider, Heart Breaker YouTube/Entertainment Tonight
Just when you thought Chris Pratt couldn’t get any better he goes and braids an intern’s hair. Not just any braid – a French braid. Most women we know can’t manage a decent French braid... and there Chris Pratt is, effortlessly plaiting her hair into an artfully-messy style that people would pay good money for in a salon. He does it all without breaking his concentration, answering questions just as easily as he would if he weren’t breaking the hearts of everyone watching. And then, just when it seems like you’ll finally be okay, he chastises the interviewer for attempting to tie it off with a rubber band, because this Chris Pratt is the best Chris Pratt.
Chris Pratt, Family Man WENN/Brian To
Chris Pratt is at his best when he’s with or talking about his family, by far. All of his insanity and goofiness fades away to showcase all of the affection he has for them, and there is nothing in this world better than a hot man who loves his family. Have you seen the way he looks at Anna Faris? That’s the dream right there. How about the way he talks about his son, Jack? It’s heartwarming and charming and adorable, while still allowing him the opportunity to make poop jokes. It’s the perfect combination of everything that makes Chris Pratt wonderful, with an extra helping of smiley, adorable baby and beautiful, talented wife. This, right here, is the dream.
Cast your vote for the best Chris Pratt of all below!
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Getty Images/U.S. Army
It’s not shocking that the media frenzy surrounding Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. Army Soldier who was controversially traded for five Guantanamo Bay prisoners after spending five years as a prisoner of the Taliban, release is still going strong. But it is somewhat of a surprise that just three weeks after he was freed, two separate films have already been launched about his story, one by Zero Dark Thirty helmer Kathryn Bigelow and the other by relative newcomer Todd Field. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the former will center her film on the events leading up to his extraction from the Taliban, while the latter has optioned the Rolling Stone article, “America’s Last Prisoner of War,” as the inspiration for the project.
But while the conversation regarding these projects seems to be centered on whether Bigelow or Field will finish their film first (or whose final product will be better, or who will finally option the rights to Berdgdahl’s life), one fact is continually overlooked. Namely, that it is way too soon for Hollywood to make a movie about Bergdahl and his release. There’s no denying that his story has all of the makings of a great film, and both Bigelow and Field will likely do an excellent job with the material, but now is not the time for that film to be made.
Though there are countless articles, opinion pieces, comments and exposes available about Bergdahl’s time in the Army and his rescue from the Taliban, very little of those contain any actual facts about the case, because there simply aren’t very many available. Most of the Army’s investigations and findings are classified, and they haven’t released much to the media other than general statements. Almost everything that is known about Bergdahl’s case is conjecture, which means that there is very little objective truth for Bigelow and Field to base their films on.
Basing a film primarily on conjecture and evidence that has been pieced together by the media will result in a movie that is heavily biased, no matter which way it leans. Admittedly, all films are biased in some way, but Bergdahl is such a controversial figure that whatever the films’ biases are, they will be used by the media to support or refute any points they want to make, which will color the public’s consciousness towards the situation, and make it more difficult for the truth to come out. And since the government and the Army are still looking into the circumstances that surrounded Bergdahl’s release, those perceptions could impact the outcome of those investigations. Whatever impact these projects have on the public consciousness could help sway the decision in Bergdahl’s case, rather than allowing the objective facts to decide.
In addition to the public implications that Bigelow and Field’s films could have, making them now is just insensitive. Bergdahl hasn’t even been out of captivity for a month, and already Hollywood is attempting to capitalize on his story. He has yet to return to his home and his family – he hasn’t even returned to the United States at all yet – and already directors are circling to try and profit off of him. No matter your personal feelings on Bergdahl or his actions, the fact remains that he should be allowed to recover from a traumatic experience before people attempt to turn those experiences into other people’s entertainment. At the very least, consider his family and loved ones, who deserve the right to spend some time with Begdahl and celebrate his return home before they have to work through their feelings about the films.
We’re not saying that a film should never be made about Bergdahl; we’re just saying that it doesn’t need to be made now. Hollywood should wait until we, as a nation, have some perspective about the situation, or at least until the 24-hour news cycle has found something else to focus on. Wait until the ongoing investigation has concluded, wait until we have some answers to support the media’s endless theories, or even just wait until Bergdahl arrives back on American soil. It doesn’t matter when the film finally does get made, as long as it's not right now.
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Filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow is reportedly developing a film about U.S. prisoner of war Bowe Bergdahl. The Army soldier hit headlines in May (14) when he was released from Taliban captivity after five years in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay prisoners, and now The Hurt Locker director is looking to reunite with her Zero Dark Thirty screenwriter Mark Boal to tell Bergdahl's story, according to Deadline.com.
Bigelow and Boal's movie is not the only project about Bergdahl in the works - Little Children director Todd Field is reportedly developing a film based on Michael Hastings' Rolling Stone article America's Last Prisoner Of War.

Australian actress Teresa Palmer has been cast as the female lead in the upcoming Point Break remake. The Warm Bodies star is set to play the love interest for fellow Aussie Luke Bracey's Johnny Utah, an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agent trying to infiltrate a criminal surf gang.
Keanu Reeves portrayed Utah in the 1991 Kathryn Bigelow movie, while Lori Petty portrayed his girlfriend.
Ray Winstone and Zero Dark Thirty star Edgar Ramirez have also been cast in the film. Ramirez will play surfer criminal Bodhi, the character made famous by Patrick Swayze in the original film.
Ramirez was tapped to replace Gerard Butler in May (14) after the 300 actor dropped out of the project following a series of creative differences with director Ericson Core, and a scheduling conflict.
Production on the film is set to begin this month (Jun14).

Directed Iraq war thriller "The Hurt Locker," written by former Playboy journalist Mark Boal; screened at festivals in 2008

Served as script supervisor for "Union City"

Lived in NYC variously as a student, artist, and filmmaker

Summary

Hailed as one of the preeminent stylists of contemporary Hollywood filmmaking, Kathryn Bigelow was often too easily pigeonholed as a female director with a flair for traditionally masculine movies. After making an unusual entrance to cinema by way of the art world, Bigelow put her distinctive stamp on standard genre films like the Western-twinged vampire flick, "Near Dark" (1987) and the feminist-themed cop thriller, "Blue Steel" (1990). With the financial success of the surfer bank heist picture, "Point Break" (1991), Bigelow enjoyed newfound status as a mainstream director with a rather artistic bent. Following a brief marriage and creative collaboration with fellow director James Cameron, she directed one of her most challenging films, the futuristic "Strange Days" (1995), which failed to catch on at the box office, but nonetheless displayed how successfully a filmmaker could marry art with narrative. Despite the financial disaster that was "K-12: The Widowmaker" (2002), Bigelow continued to churn out an impressive body of work, including the Oscar-winning war drama "The Hurt Locker" (2009) and "Zero Dark Thirty" (2012), both of which honed in on her fascination with the meaning of violence that was once thought to be the exclusive domain of male directors.

Married Aug. 17, 1989; Divorced Nov. 10, 1991; Cameron produced Bigelow's screenplay "Point Break" (1991); He also produced and scripted her film "Strange Days" (1995)

Gertrude Larson

Mother

Education

Name

Columbia University

Whitney Museum Independent Study Program

San Francisco Art Institute

Notes

"The filmmakers I admire most like Oliver [Stone] and Scorsese and Kurosawa – they always have an edge, a complexity. Their movies aren't comforting; they're not pacifying. They bring out the audience's strength." – Bigelow quoted in Vogue magazine, October 1995

"The nice thing with a genre like horror is that it's a definite grid on which to hang a piece and give the audience a familiarity before you kind of subvert it." – Bigelow to The Washington Post, Oct. 17, 1995